Lot 408

Anna Freud TLS on Her Father & His Physician: "So far every historical account… about my father personally has contained some mistakes"

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Anna Freud TLS on Her Father & His Physician: "So far every historical account… about my father personally has contained some mistakes"

Estimate: $500 - $600

Current Bid: $280

(4 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Anna Freud
London, England, May 8, 1972
Anna Freud TLS on Her Father & His Physician: "So far every historical account… about my father personally has contained some mistakes"
TLS

A content-rich typed letter from notable psychoanalyst Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud, in which she comments on the relationship between her father and his physician. 1p on onionskin paper, measuring 8.5" x 11", London, England, May 8, 1972. Signed at conclusion in blue felt tip, she discusses the inaccuracies in "every historical account" of her father produced thus far, and talks in length about Dr. Max Schur, who later helped in Freud's assisted suicide. Isolated creasing in the top right, with small closed tear present to right side fold. Expected toning throughout. Else, very good.

In full:

"Thank you for your answer of April 28 and I am very glad that you agree with my proposal to 'correct errors'. I can tell you why I offered to do this. So far every historical account that has appeared about psychoanalysis or about my father personally has contained some mistakes, bigger or smaller, in all cases quite unnecessary ones, if the author had taken the trouble to verify his facts. It would not matter so much for the single case, but experience shows that these things are subsequently quoted by somebody else and it does not take long before they become a historical truth of their own. Finally, even if one knows better one is inclined to believe them.

As regards the book by Dr. Schur, I have not read it so far. Dr. Schur knew that I did not approve of his writing it and he rather minded that. But as you know he was my father's physician and it was in this capacity that he was admitted to an intimacy which was rather unusual. I felt that all the observations he could make on the basis of this position should have been kept private, but I could not convince him and we remained good friends inspite [sic] of the disagreement. I would be very interested of course to read your review."

Anna Freud (1895-1982) was an Austrian-born British psychoanalyst, the sixth and youngest child of Sigmund Freud and Martha Bernays. Compared to her father, her work emphasized the importance of the ego and its normal "developmental lines", as well as incorporating a distinctive emphasis on collaborative work across a range of analytical and observational contexts. Alongside contemporaries Hermine Hug-Hellmuth (1871-1924) and Melaine Klein (1882-1960), Freud is considered among the founders of psychoanalytic child psychology.

Dr. Max Schur (1897-1969) was the physician and close personal friend of Sigmund Freud, who would eventually assist in his euthanasia. Early on in their relationship, the two made a pact that Freud would not suffer "unnecessarily". In turn, when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the jaw, Schur made good on his promise and on September 21-22, 1939, he administered fatal amounts of morphine which resulted in Freud's death. As Anna notes, however, discrepancies in the account Schur gave of his role in Freud's final hours led to inconsistencies between his main biographers. A revised account proposes that Schur was absent from Freud's deathbed when a third and final dose of morphine was administered by Josephine Stross- a colleague of Anna's- leading to Freud's death at around midnight on September 23rd. Schur's book, titled "Freud: Living and Dying", was posthumously published in 1972.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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